Can you provide more details on alcohol's toxicity and metabolism?

In the episode, Andrew Huberman explains that alcohol, when consumed, undergoes a metabolic process where it is first converted into acetaldehyde, a highly toxic substance. Acetaldehyde is harmful because it damages and kills cells indiscriminately. The body then converts acetaldehyde into acetate, which can be used as a fuel source, albeit inefficiently, since this entire process is metabolically costly and produces what are considered "empty calories". Acetate provides energy but lacks nutritional benefits like vitamins or essential nutrients 1.

The liver plays a critical role in this conversion process, but the cells within the liver can be damaged by repeated exposure to acetaldehyde, highlighting the strain that alcohol metabolism places on the liver. Due to the toxicity of acetaldehyde, the speed and efficiency of this conversion process are crucial to minimizing cellular damage 1.